Chapter 266: [266] : [BONUS] – The Theory of Fate! The Battle for the NO 1 Spot!

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Rowen looked at the changes in the Nika Trait and smiled.

It was just as he had suspected.

The ability to use Nika’s exclusive “Imagination” and to turn all things to rubber was not the limit of this Devil Fruit, arguably the strongest in existence.

The ’Desire for Liberation’ could still make Nika stronger.

According to Rowen’s deductions, when Nika released its next level of power—that would be the moment the ’Drums of Liberation’ would truly sound.

That would also be the moment the Sun God truly reappeared in the world.

“Can it be shared?”

Rowen looked at the Nika Trait’s changes and nodded.

Because his Trait was bound to the Nika Fruit within Luffy, the ’Desire for Liberation’ only needed to be digested by one of them, and the other would synchronize their progress.

This significantly reduced the difficulty of collecting and digesting the ’Desire for Liberation’ for Rowen. Otherwise, to sustain two Nikas, the amount of ’Desire’ required would be immense.

Now, only one portion of ’Desire for Liberation’ was needed for both his and Luffy’s Nika forms to undergo a new qualitative change.

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“Zoro, how does it feel?”

Rowen looked towards Zoro, who was testing his new blade nearby.

“One of the 21 Great Grade Swords—Enma,”

Zoro said, looking at the new sword in his hand, a feral grin spreading across his face.

Shusui, the national treasure of Wano, had been requested in exchange by Kozuki Hiyori, just as in the original story.

Zoro had not hesitated much to agree.

After all, a swordsman who had reached Zoro’s current level understood very well—relying on a black blade forged by another could never make one the strongest.

To become the World’s Greatest Swordsman, replacing Shusui was inevitable.

This act also earned him the immense gratitude of the people of Wano.

Shusui, as a national treasure, held a significant, almost spiritual, place in Wano. The remnants of the Kozuki clan were also very grateful.

After all, Wano was now an affiliated nation under the Sky Sovereign Grand Fleet. If Sky Sovereign wanted a famed sword from here—he could have simply taken it as a tax deduction, and they would have had no complaints.

But he had returned their national treasure, Shusui, through an exchange, which moved them deeply.

It represented that Sky Sovereign Rowen, this powerhouse who had defeated Kaido, did not see this place as a mere slave-labor camp for forging weapons and war resources, as Kaido had.

Instead, he was treating them with a degree of equality.

For the core members of Wano, who had been violently ruled by Kaido and Orochi for many years, this was a dream come true.

Though not to the point of direct allegiance, if a war were to break out, these people would clearly fight harder than before.

For Rowen, that was enough.

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Just as in the original story, when faced with the choice between two other Great Grade Swords, Ame no Habakiri and Enma, Zoro, guided by his swordsman’s intuition, chose Enma.

This famed blade, said to be able to “Destroy Even Hell,” was an absolute top-tier sword even among the 21 Great Grade blades.

It was also known to possess a very unique ability.

It could absorb and then release the user’s Haki, unleashing extremely powerful attacks.

If one could not completely tame this famed blade, they risked having their Haki completely drained.

Haki, as the manifestation of a powerhouse’s spiritual and physical power, being drained meant all the energy in one’s cells was drained.

This would lead to the situation in the original story where, upon first using Enma, Zoro’s arm was sucked dry, becoming like a mummy’s, even risking his life.

Enma, and Zoro’s most important Sword of Promise, Wado Ichimonji, were both forged by Shimotsuki Kozaburo.

And Shimotsuki Kozaburo was the father of Zoro’s sword master, Shimotsuki Koushirou. By blood, he was the grandfather of the deceased Kuina.

Zoro choosing Enma had a touch of fate to it… it formed a pair with Wado Ichimonji.

His third sword, Sandai Kitetsu, one of the 50 Skillful Grade Swords, though a cursed sword, was gradually unable to keep up with Zoro’s pace.

Its replacement was only a matter of time.

Though the superior version of Sandai Kitetsu—the Nidai Kitetsu, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, was also in the hands of Tenguyama Hitetsu, Zoro had felt no fateful attraction to it.

This meant Zoro’s own Asura Aura and his swordsman’s intuition did not choose this blade.

Rowen had anticipated this long ago.

Wado Ichimonji, as Zoro’s sword of promise, would never be replaced. Enma, like Wado Ichimonji, also forged by Shimotsuki Kozaburo, could also accompany Zoro to the end.

But Zoro, whose goal was to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman, having only two of the 21 Great Grade Swords in his hands—was clearly not enough.

The final sword, the one to replace Sandai Kitetsu, could only be one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords. Only then could Zoro fulfill his ambition and become the World’s Greatest Swordsman.

Based on Zoro’s Asura Aura once choosing Sandai Kitetsu, and him encountering but actively rejecting Nidai Kitetsu—the final sword chosen by Zoro’s Asura Aura was very likely the strongest of the Kitetsu series.

One of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords… the SHODAI KITETSU.

And that sword was most likely the one in the hands of the swordsman among the Five Elders—Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.

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“Be careful. This sword can absorb the user’s Ryūō. A weaker person would risk their life. The only one who could tame this sword was the former Kozuki Oden,”

Kozuki Sukiyaki, disguised as Tenguyama Hitetsu, who had been safeguarding Enma and Ame no Habakiri, warned seriously.

In Wano, Armament Haki was called ’Ryūō’.

“Oh? Interesting. It can absorb Haki?” Zoro’s eyes flashed with an astonishing crimson-black light.

“Let this sword see your Haki now, Zoro,” Rowen smiled.

CLANG!

The moment Rowen’s words fell, Zoro directly drew Enma.

VMM!

A strange fluctuation came from Enma’s blade.

In Rowen’s Observation Haki, this fluctuation was like an invisible chain, piercing through Zoro’s body, aiming directly at the manifested energy of his combined spiritual and physical power—Armament Haki.

It was trying to completely drain Zoro’s Armament Haki.

“Hmph!”

Zoro’s eyes flashed with an astonishing crimson-black light.

The next moment, this crimson-black light instantly materialized!

VMM! BOOM! CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

Around Zoro’s entire body, incredibly violent and tyrannical crimson-black lightning materialized, roaring furiously!

Then, these crimson-black lightning arcs, under Zoro’s control, coiled around Enma’s blade!

HAOSHOKU COATING!

Without the aid of Asura Aura, Zoro had independently achieved—Haōshoku Coating!

VMM.

Before this kingly power, Enma’s blade trembled, and the force that was trying to drain Zoro’s Armament Haki instantly retracted into the blade.

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“Th-This power is…” Kozuki Sukiyaki’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat.

“Haōshoku Coating… Very impressive,” Yamato praised. As someone who had also grasped the basics of this power, Yamato recognized it instantly. On these seas, only a select few powerhouses could master it.

“Indeed, very impressive,” Ace also praised.

Zoro—after teaming up with Hancock to defeat S-Hawk—he had taken time to absorb everything he’d gained from the fight. As a result, he’d begun to grasp the basics of Haōshoku Coating.

Completely different from before, when he could only channel a portion of Conqueror’s Haki’s power through the miraculous Asura Aura—this was true Haōshoku Coating.

“You’re the impressive one, Ace,” Zoro looked at Ace with a feral grin.

“To master Haōshoku Coating in such a short time, and you’re very close to perfecting it…” Zoro’s words made Yamato’s eyes widen.

“EH?? ACE, YOU’VE MASTERED HAOSHOKU COATING TOO??” Yamato was shocked.

Yamato had known for a long time that Ace possessed Conqueror’s Haki. But Ace had never acknowledged this power, rendering him unable to use it.

But now, he had mastered its ultimate application?

“I have never been more grateful… that I possess this talent,” Ace said, touching the spot over his heart, his eyes flashing with a powerful crimson-black light.

“Master this power as soon as possible,” Rowen smiled.

As the inheritor of Roger’s bloodline, Ace’s talent was astonishing. Now that he had accepted his heritage, with Rowen’s guidance, his growth in Haki was monstrous.

Plus, after his Flare-Flare Fruit was Awakened, Ace’s physique was no longer a weak point—he now possessed Admiral-level combat strength, fully capable of bearing the terrifying consumption of Haōshoku Coating.

Now, Ace was only one step away from fully mastering Haōshoku Coating.

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“What’s the point of just cutting trees to test a sword?” Rowen smiled.

“Hm?” Zoro and Ace seemed to sense something, looking towards Rowen.

“Let’s have a spar. Let me see what level my combatants have reached,” Rowen laughed.

“I heard you and Sanji have been competing for the NO. 2 spot among Rowen’s combatants,” Ace also smiled, looking at Zoro.

The NO. 1 spot among Rowen’s combatants, in the eyes of the sea, was no longer in question.

Luffy, who had already become an Emperor was the undisputed choice.

“No.” Zoro showed a feral grin.

“It’s NO. 1.”

Zoro—had never truly conceded.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Ace’s eyes flashed with crimson-black.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep